BBC acquires Danny Boyle’s new drama ‘Trust’

Danny Boyle’s new drama Trust, starring Donald Sutherland, is heading for the BBC following a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution.

About the real life kidnapping of the heir to billionaire businessman John Paul Getty, the ten-part series is executive produced by Slumdog Millionaire’s Academy Award winning team Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy and Christian Colson.

Trust opens in 1973 with the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III (Harris Dickinson), heir to the Getty fortune, in Rome. His captors bank on a multi-million dollar ransom, but back in England Paul’s wealthy grandfather (Donald Sutherland) refuses to pay up. With Paul’s father (Michael Esper) lost in a drug-induced daze, it is left to Paul’s mother – the penniless Gail Getty (Hilary Swank) – to negotiate with both the increasingly desperate kidnappers and her stubborn former father-in-law to save her son.

“I am tremendously excited that Trust is coming to BBC Two. The series has the unique scale, singular vision and extraordinary swagger that only Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy and Christian Colson can bring,”said Patrick Holland, controller of BBC Two.

Sue Deeks, head of BBC Programme Acquisition, added:“Trust is bold storytelling, made with verve, style and ambition. The Getty family have captured the public’s imagination like few others, and there is no better team to reimagine their story for television than the award-winning trio of Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy and Christian Colson.

“We’re very excited to bring this compelling new series to BBC Two.”

The 10×60’ series is produced by FX Productions, Cloud Eight Films, Decibel Films and Snicket Films Limited. Danny Boyle directed the first three episodes, which will premiere in the UK on BBC Two in the autumn.